 Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-chemistry-course-of-the-year-4-of-the-natural-sciences-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2022/paper-2/section-a/18/b/solution

With one growing chain per ruthenium initiator and negligible chain transfer, consumption of monomer gives

D P_{n} = \frac{[ M ] _{0}}{[ I ] _{0}} x = 50 (0.98) = 49.

The conversion factor applies to incorporated monomer units, not the number of active chains. Slow initiation or inactive initiator would invalidate this ideal living polymerization estimate.

 New to topics? Read the docs here!